The structural behaviour of compressed wood manufactured using fast-grown sitka spruce

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to examine the potential to manufacture a compressed wood product from fast-grown Sitka spruce, using a process of thermo-mechanical compression to increase its strength and stiffness. The process involves subjecting timber to a thermal load followed by a compressive load to reduce its cross-section, increasing its density and improving its structural performance. In this study, the influence of the manufacturing parameters, specifically, the pressing time and compression ratio, are examined. These parameters have been evaluated based on the microscopic structure and bending strength from three-point bending tests. The results have demonstrated that there is significant potential to manufacture a compressed wood product with improved structural behaviour from fast grown timber.